5.2.1 Recycling case: Coolrec

Summary

The video discusses Coolrec's role in recycling household and professional fridges, washing machines, and dishwashers. The company handles hazardous materials, extracting cooling agents like freon. Coolrec is transitioning towards a circular economy, focusing on material and parts harvesting, like extracting cast iron from washing machines for reuse by manufacturers such as Miele. The company is shifting from traditional recycling to supplying specific raw materials back to manufacturers, who aim to close the recycling loop by reusing these materials in new products. This reflects evolving industry trends in e-waste recycling.

Takeaways

• 🏭 Coolrec processes household and professional fridges, as well as large appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
• 🛠️ The facility focuses on handling hazardous materials, such as removing cooling agents like freon.
• ♻️ Coolrec recycles materials like aluminum, copper, and plastic, with the latter being processed by a subsidiary in the Netherlands.
• 🔄 The company has been involved in recycling for 25 years and is transitioning into a circular economy model, where specific materials are extracted for manufacturers.
• 🏅 Coolrec successfully piloted a project with a major washing machine manufacturer, Miele, by supplying them with cast iron, a material Miele exclusively uses.
• 🏗️ Cast iron, often considered waste, can be reused for specific purposes like construction or as material for Miele's equipment.
• 💰 Despite being inexpensive, it is economically viable to sell cast iron parts to Miele by shortening the supply chain.
• 🔍 The company differentiates between material harvesting (like specific plastics) and parts harvesting (where parts are kept intact for reuse).
• 📈 The e-waste industry is evolving, with a focus on manufacturers taking responsibility for recycling their products and closing the loop in the supply chain.
• 🌱 Coolrec sees the future of recycling as more about supplying raw materials and reusing them in new products, with manufacturers showing excitement about this direction.

Q & A

What types of appliances are treated in this plant?

The plant treats household fridges, professional fridges, and large appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

How are hazardous materials from fridges handled at the plant?

The plant removes hazardous materials, such as cooling agents like freon, ensuring proper treatment and disposal.

What are the primary materials recovered from the appliances in the plant?

The primary materials recovered include aluminum, copper, and plastic. The plastic is further treated at a subsidiary in the Netherlands.

What does the circular economy mean for Coolrec?

Coolrec is focused on recycling secondary raw materials and also works towards the circular economy by extracting specific materials for customers and manufacturers.

What is Coolrec's collaboration with a washing machine manufacturer?

Coolrec has partnered with Miele, a washing machine manufacturer, to extract and supply specific materials like cast iron, which Miele uses in its products.

What is the significance of the cast iron material in the recycling process?

Cast iron, while considered waste by most, is extracted by Coolrec and sold to Miele for reuse in their washing machines. It is economically feasible because it shortens the supply chain.

What is the difference between material harvesting and parts harvesting?

Material harvesting involves extracting materials like plastic, while parts harvesting refers to removing parts intact without shredding them, to be reused as is.

How does the industry view the future of e-waste recycling?

The industry is moving towards a more responsible approach, where manufacturers are accountable for recycling the products they put on the market, aiming to close the loop by reusing materials.

Why are manufacturers interested in closing the loop in recycling?

Manufacturers want to take full responsibility for recycling their products, ensuring proper disposal and reuse of materials in their new products to meet sustainability goals.

How does Coolrec see the future of recycling evolving?

Coolrec believes that recycling will evolve from simply recovering materials to supplying raw materials for manufacturing, as the concept of recycling is continuously redefined.